Electrical musical instrument



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. A. BRACHHAUSEN. ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented Dec. 21

INVENTOR w/m/ Kr m ATTORNEYS NORRIS PETERS co. PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON. o. L.

(No Model.) 3 S11eetsSheet 2 G. A. BRAOHHAUSEN ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 595,901. Patented Dec. 21,1897.

/ INVENTOR i Mam ATTORNEYS (No Model.) 3 SI1eetsSheet 3.

V G. A. BRACHHAUSEN.

ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 595,901. Patented Dec. 21,1897.

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GUSTAV A. BRACHIIAUSEN, OF RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICAL MUSlCAL ENSTRUMENT.

SPEGIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,901, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed July 8,1897. Serial No. 643,825. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUsTAv A. BRACHHAU- SEN, a resident of Rahway, Union county, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Electrical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to musical instruments, and has for its object to produce a musical instrument having music-playing devices combined with an electrical shocking device for administering electric shocks or impulses concurrently with the sounding of the notes.

To this end my invention consists in the construction hereinafter set forth and claimed.

My invention will be best understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a plan View of a musical instrument embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section thereof on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic detail view of music-playing devices and the electrical shocking apparatus. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the star-wheels, note-sheet, music-tongues, and the contact devices hereinafter described; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the universal contact-bar, clearly showing the contact devices carried thereby.

In the drawings, A is the inclosing case of the music-box, carrying any usual driving mechanism B.

C is the n1 usic-playing mechanism, comprising a series of music-playing devices, herein shown as the usual tongues CL and star-wheels d. Mounted in proximity to the star-wheels is a universal contact-bar 1), (shown in the present instance as mounted upon one of the combs and secured thereto by a bolt 0, but insulated from the said comb by insulation 2.) This universal contact-bar preferably carries a series of contact-fingers f, which are spaced apart and adapted to cooperate with the star-wheels, so as to close the circuit of the shocking apparatus, as will be set forth. Mounted also in the boX or casing Ais a battery D and an induction or spark coil E. The battery D may be connected to the universal contact-bar by a wire g and to one of the terminals of the primary of the induction-coil by a wire It. The other terminal of the primary of the induction coil is connected through circuit-breaker p to the music-box movement by a wire 2', the circuit being, as represented in Fig. 3, from the battery by wire 7b to one terminal of the primary of the induction-coil, thence from the other terminal of the primary of the induction-coil by the circuit-breaker and wire 2' to the bed-plate j of the movement, and thence through the star wheel or wheels to the contact finger or fingers f when the same are in contact with a star -wl1eel or star -wheels, thence by the universal contact-bar Z) and wire 9 back to the battery. The secondary of the induction-coil is connected by wires 76 Z to suitable handles or current-appliers m n, which may be grasped in the hands of the person or other wise applied to his body.

For the purpose of operating the star-wheels and tongues I have shown an ordinary notesheet F, having projections 0, which cooperate with the star-wheel and cause the same to pick the combs to sound the notes in the ordinary manner.

The operation of the device will be readily understood and may be explained as follows: The projections of the note -sheet coming against the star-wheels rotate them and cause them to pick the teeth of the comb and simultaneously bring their teeth d in contact with the contact-fingers f, which closes the circuit of the induction-coil,as explained,and causes a set of impulses to be generated in the secondary thereof and a shock administered to the person holding the handles on at each time that the star-wheels are moved to contact with the fingers of the universal contact-bar. By this means at the sounding of each note an impulse or set of impulses traverse the S ondary of the induction-coil and pass through the body of the holder of the handles,and thus the operator of the box in addition to hearing the music experiences the pleasant sensation of a slight electric impulse each time a note is sounded.

I prefer to employ an induction-coil as the movement of the star-wheel is comparatively slow, and while the tooth of the star-wheel is passing over the contact-finger the circuitbreaker p of the induction-coil will have time to make several vibrations, although one may, if desired, employ a spark or kick coil with somewhat similar effect.

Any desired musioplaying or shocking devices may be employed; but I prefer to employ the type shown in the drawings, which has been found to be very efficient for the purpose and which maybe readily started by the starting handle or lever q.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a mechanical musical instrument, and an electrical shocking device, the operation of the said electrical shocking device being governed from an element of the music-playing devices of the musical instrument.

2. In amechanical musical instrument,the combination of music-playing devices, an induction coil, a circuit manipulator in the primary of the induction-coil intermittently operated from an element of the music-playing devices, and current-applyin g devices in the secondary of the induction-coil.

The combination of an automatic mu sical instrument, an electrical shocking device, the said electrical shocking device being governed from an element of the mechanical musical instrument, whereby music may be played and electrical shocks simultaneously administered by the operation of the musical instrument.

4. The combination of an automatic musical instrument and an electrical shocking device and a circuit-breaker for the said electrical shocking device governed from an ele ment of the musical instrumentsubstantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an automatic musical instrument,tho combination of music-playing devices, c01nprised in part by star-wheels and an electrical shocking apparatus governed by the starwheels.

6. In an automatic musical instrument,the combination of music playing devices, an electrical shocking apparatus comprised in part by means for cooperating with the music-playing devices to make and break a circuit and means for intermittently operating the music-playing devices, whereby the music-playing devices and the electrical shockin g apparatus may be synchronously opcrated.

7. In an automatic musical instrument,the combination of current-appliers, means for generating a supply of electrical current for the current appliers and musicplaying devices govcrning the generation of the current, substantially as described.

GUSTAV A. BRAOIIHAUSEN. ,Vitnesses:

Gno. E. Monsn, CHARLES E. SMITH. 

